Strip-feeding mechanism.



' H; C. LEONARD.

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAYB, 191s.

Patented Sept-1, 1914.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Harfieri afiewz zaz-az C I v.

THE NORRIS PEb'ERS 5b.. PHG'IDJJTHQ. WASHINGTON. D.

H. G. LEONARD.

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 6, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 19-14..

6 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

Mzzasses:

H. G. LEONARD.

STRIP FEEDING mnonmsm.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913. 1,109,237, Patented Sephl, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHOTOJJTH-O" WASHINGTON. D, C

H. G. LEONARD.

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM.

.APPLIOATION FILED KAY s, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

In verifier I gm-5 eri @Leonard D] Q Q N Q e R b R v m WMQVG? M THE314E815 PETERS CO:PHOTO LITHO..WASH|NGTDN. D, C.

H. U. LEONARD. STRIIJ FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' THE xnkms PETERS co.. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, a. c'.

H. G. LEONARD.

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED an 6, 191a.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

mzwesssr wmGM 'uivrrsn STATES PA E T orriou.

HERBERT e. LEONARD, or Aousiiiv ir,. viiissneirusii'r'rs, AssIGivoit T0A'rnAs TACK COMPANY, or FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

STBIiP-FEEDIHG MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT O. LEONARD, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Aeushnet, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStrip- Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic mech- Of the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention: Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofstrip-feeding mechanism in cooperative relation to a, tack makingmachine of well-known construction and operation.

resents a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the delivery end of thestrip-feeding mechanism and the adjacent parts of the tackmakingmachine. In this figure/and in other figures the position of thestrip-feeding mechanism is represented as being horizontal, solely forthe purpose of expediting the drawings. Fig. 3 represents a top planview of the delivery end of the strip-feeding mechanism, omitting thebarrel through which the strip is fed. Fig. 4: represents a top planview, ona larger scale, of a clutchoperating device included in Fig. 3.Fig. 5 represents an elevaton, on a largerseale, of a barrel-stoppingdeviceincluded in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of theother end of the strip-feeding mechanism. This figure, if placed at theright of Fig. 2, may be read as acontinuat'ion of Fig. 2. Fig. 7represents a top plan view of the mechanism shown by Fig. 6, and bearsthe same relation to Fig. 3 as that borne by Fig.

. 6 to Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a top plan view of a portion of themechanism by which the strips are transferred laterally from a magazineinto the feed barrel The same mechanism is included in Fig. 7, but themechanism is shown in different positions by the two figures. Fig. 9represents a side elevation of the feed barrel, portions Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1913. Serial 110,765,788.

The strip-feeding mechanism is 111- chned as shown by this figure. Fig.2 rep of which are broken away. Fig. 10 repre sents a cross section inthe plane indicated by line 101O of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 represents 'iaaaeasept; 1, 1914.,

an elevation of strip-engaging meanswhich moves through the barrel tofeed the strip. Fig. 12 represents an elevation ofthe samestrip-engaging means froml'a'viewpoint at right angles to that of Fig.11. Fig. 13 rep- 'resents'a cross section in the plane indicated by line13-13 of Fig. 11. Fig. 14 represents a longitudinal verticalsectionthrough that portion of the feed barrel which is shown at theright of Fig. 9. -Fig. 15 rep resents an elevation of a magazine forblank strips, and means for transferring thestrips to the feed barrel.Fig. 16 represents a vertical section, on a larger scale, 111 the planeindicated by line 1616-of Fig. 15. Fig- 17 represents a verticalsection, on a larger scale, inthe plane indicated by line 17l7 of Fig.15, some of the parts being shown in a different position.

indicated by line 19-19 of Fig. 1. Fig. 20

represents an elevationof a clutch-operat- Fig-18 represents ahorizontal section of the gearing by which.

ing device included in Fig. 19. Fig. 21 represents an elevation ofabarrel-starting de vice included in Fig. 19. Fig. 22 represents avertical sectionin the plane indicated. by line 22%22 of Fig. 7 i

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever theyoccur.

, 7 9a Although the drawings show the present. invention as applied to atack machine, it is;

to be understood that it is not limited to this one use and that theclaims hereinafter set forth are intended to cover the various featuresof the,inventionregardless of the specificmachine to which thestrip-feeding mechanism is applied.

Before describingthe details of my present invention I will brieflyoutline the Open zine into the barrel. The feeding movement of the stripthroughthe barrel is caused by strip-engaging means which moveslongitudinally through the barrel. WVhen each strip has been used as faras possible, leaving, a short remnant, the feeding device by which thestrip is engaged moves in the reverse direction, carrying the remnantaway from the machine which operates upon the strip. The feeding deviceis caused to discharge the remnant after having carried the remnant asufficient distance from the delivery end of the barrel toward theopposite end thereof. While the feeding device is retracted beyond thepoint where a new blank strip is inserted into the barrel, thestriptransferring mechanism is operated to transfer a new blank stripfrom the magazine into the barrel. The feeding device is then advancedtoward the new blank strip and operatively engages the same, and thenfeeds the new strip toward the means which operates upon the strip. Thiscycle of operations is repeated indefinitely so long as the magazinecontains blank strips. tional supply of blank strips may be placed inthe magazine from time to time as occasion requires, withoutinterrupting the op eration of the mechanism.

The operating mechanism includes weighted means for feeding the strip tothe means which operates upon the strip, and also'includes power-drivenmeans for moving the feeding device in the reverse direction andpower-driven means for moving the feeding device from its fullyretracted position to strip-engaging position. The power-operatedmechanism includes clutch mechanism and controlling mechanism therefor,the controlling mechanism being actuated by the feeding device asfollows While the weighted feeding means is operatingto feed the stripto the means which operates upon the strip, the clutch mechanism isentirely disconnected and is in what is hereinafter called a neutralposition. When the strip has been fed to the limit of its feedingmovement by the aforesaid weighted means, the clutch controllingmechanism is thrown automatically into the reverse position by apower-driven actuator. The power-driven mechanism then moves thestrip-engaging device in the opposite direction to retract the same, andwhen the device is fully retracted the clutch mechanism is shiftedautomatically from reverse position to forward driving position to carrythe strip-engaging device to strip-engaging position. lVhen thestrip-engaging device reaches strip-engaging position, the clutchmechanism is placed automatically again in neutral position, and thestrip-engaging device is then moved as before by the weighted means tofeed the fresh blank strip through the barrel. The operation justdescribed is An addisubstantially the same as that in my aforesaidcopending application, but the mechanism for performing the severalfunctions embodies various improvements which are hereinafter describedin detail and are shown upon the accompanying drawings and herestripfirst in one position and then in.

another position with reference to the machine 25. The barrel 1s mountedin bearings 27 and 28 in such manner that it may be readily detached.The bearing 27 has two studs, such as that indicated at 29 in Fig. 2,which occupy holes 30, 80 (see Fig. 3) in a stationary support 31. Oneor more springs, such as that indicated at 32 in Fig. 2, hold thebearing seated upon its support. These springs may be readily detachedto permit detachment of the hearing from its support. The bearing 28,which is shown by Figs. 1, 6 and 7, receives a circular collar 33 whichis affixed to the barrel. This collar turns in the bearing and preventslongitudinal movement of the barrel but permits lifting the barrel awayfrom the bearing. When the collar is lifted out of the bearing 28 andwhen the bearing 27 is lifted from the support 31, the barrel may beremoved.

The main frame of the feeding mechanism is indicated at 34. The endwhich is toward the machine 25 rests upon and is supported by a bracket35 ailixed to the machine, and the opposite end of the frame issupported by a standard 36. As shown by Fig. 1, the frame 3-1 isinclined, its lower end being toward the machine 25. The inclinedarrangement of the frame is not shown in the other figures, but it is tobe understood that the only reason for not showing the inclinedarrangement in the other figures is to facilitate the making of-thedrawings.

The barrel is oscillated in its bearings through suitable connectionswhich receive their motion from the machine 25. For this purpose arockshaft 37 (see Fig. 1) is mounted in suitable bearings on the machineAn operating arm 38 affixed to the rockshaft is oscillated by anysuitable means (not shown), the posltion of the arm as nally. This rodis provided with a suitable connecting device, indicated as a whole at41, whereby the rod is disconnectibly connected to a stud 42 carried bya bell-crank the rod and the bell-crank lever. This lever is afiixed toa rockshaft 44 which is mounted in suitable bearings in the frame 34.One arm of the bell-crank is connected by a suitable connection 45 witha flexible strap 46 which is anchored to the barrel 26. At the oppositeside of the frame 34 an arm 47 (Figs. 6 and 7) is aflixed to therockshaft. This arm is connected by another connecting device 45' with asecond flexible strap 48 which is anchored to the barrel. The straps 46and 48 extend part way around the barrel inopposite directions, and thearrangement of the several parts is such that the barrel is oscillatedpositively in both directions when the bell-crank 43 is oscillated. Aspring 49 acting upon the bell-crank 43 is provided to move the barrelalways to; the same position when the connection 41 is lifted, for thepurpose of holding the barrel in strip-receiving position. Thisposition, as shown by Figs. 16 and 17, is determined by a stop 50 whichcooperates with the arm 47. i

The barrel has a longitudinal'slot 51 in its side for enabling a blankstriptomove laterally into the barrel. formed in the barrel for thereception of pushers,hereinafter. described, which trans fer a blankstrip from the magazine into the barrel. The barrel. also has recesses53 for the reception of suitable devices, hereinafter described, whichcotiperate with two of the pushers to hold the blankstrip in operativeposition upon the pushers. The bar'- rel has still other recesses,indicated at 54, for the reception of suitable devices, hereinafterdescribed, which move into the barrel with the blank strip to preventthe end of the strip from sagging and forholding the end of the strip inline with the strip engaging devices by which the strip is fed to themachine 25.

The strip is 'fedthrough the barrel to the machine 25 by mechanism whichincludes the device shown by Figs. 11, 12' and 13. This device includesgrippers 55 which engage the rearend of the strip. One of the grippershas a shoulder 56 which abuts againsttho rear end of the strip. Thegrippers are pivotally connected with each other by a pin 57, and theyhaVeextensions 58 which are normally spread apa'rt'by springs 59 toclose thegrippers on the blank strip. Links 60 are pivotally connectedto the ex tensions 58 respectively and are connected to a rod 61 by apivot pin 62. The rod 61 is provided with shoes 63 which have slidingRecesscs' 52 are 111g flanges 71 formed upon the interior of engagementwith the interior surface ofthe barrels The rear end of the rod 61 has afin 64 which projects through the slot 51 to engage a U-shaped yoke 65affixed to a sliding carriage 66; The U-shape of this yoke 65 is shownby Fig. 19, but in this figure the" extremities of the U-portion arebroken away. The rod61 receives its movement through'the barrel from thecarriage 66 and the latter is reciprocated as hereinafter ex plained.The fin 64 is formedwith a notch 67 which is occupied by the yoke. Theengagement of the fin64 with the edges which define the longitudinalslot 51 in the barrel causes the rod 61 to oscillate with the barrel,

and the fin is thereby. oscillated relativelyto the yoke 65,.but theshape of the yoke preserves the desired cooperative engagement. In orderto prevent relativerotative movement ofthe rod 61 and barrel while thefin 64 is opposite any one of the recesses of the barrel, the rod isprovided with pins 68.

Cam members 69 are secured upon the in- }terior of the barrelfor thepurpose of opening the grippers 55 when the latter are retracted. Thesecam surfaces are engaged by the links 60, with the resultthat theextensions 58 are moved. toward each other,

thus opening the grippers. The sliding shoes 63 arecut'away (see Fig.13) toprovide recesses 70 to enable the shoes' to pass the cams 69without engaging the same.

The sliding carriage 66 slides upon guidthe fra1ne34', as shown by Figs.16'and 19.

.The'carriage is overlapped by strips 72 which keep it seated upon theflanges. A sprocket chain 7 3 is secured to the carriage and runs uponsprocket wheels 74 and 7 5,

mounted near the opposite endof the feeding mechanism. A cord or chain77 provided with a weight 78 is connected at 79 same in this instancebeing a part of the :frame 34. The cord or chain 7 7 passes over an idleroll 8l,"and the tendency of the weight 78 is to draw the lower stretchof the chain 73 away from the machine 25 and thereby-move the slidingcarriage toward the machine 25. The function'of this mechanism is toimpart feeding movement to the strip which is in the barrel to carry thestrip forward toward the machine 25. i The sprocket wheel 74 isassociated with suitable tion tor-strip-engaging positiomas hereinafterexplained.

The magazine which contains the blank lie tothe chain 73. The other endof th cord or chain 77 is secured at 80 ton. fixture,-the

iii

strips is shown by Figs. 1, 7, 15, 16and17. It comprises uprights 82 ofwhich there are two pairs, one pair of said uprights being mounted uponone end of a magazine frame 83 and the other pair being mounted at theopposite end of said frame. This frame, as shown by Fig; 16, is securedto the frame 34. The uprights 82 engage the ends of blank strips such asthat indicated at m,the blank strips being piled one upon anotherbetween the uprights, as shown by Figs. 15 and 16. The pile of blankstrips is shown somewhat conventionally in Fig. 15, the ends of the pilebeing indicated by'vertical dotted lines 00, and the top of the pilebeing indicated by a horizontal broken line m The bottom strip in themagazine rests upon stationary blocks 84 whose upper surfaces are in aplane which intersects or nearly intersects the axis of the feed barrel26. The bottom strip in the magazine is moved laterally into the feedbarrel through the longitudinal slot 51 of the latter. For this pur posethe magazine is provided with slides 85 each of which has a push finger86. These slides are movable transversely with relation to the axis ofthe feed barrel. Each push finger has a shoulder 87 and an extension 88.When the slides are fully retracted from the feed barrel, the extensions88 underlie and engage the bottom strip :20, in the magazine. lVhen theslides are moved toward the feed barrel the shoulders 87 engage the sideed e' of the bottom strip and push the. strip from under the remainingstrips, the push fingers advancing into the feed barrel through therecesses 52. During this movement the bottom strip is supported by theextensions 88. No more than one strip at a time can be removed from themagazine, because the magazine is provided with abutments 89 whichengage the second strip on the side toward the feed barrel. The stripispositioned centrally in the barrel by adjustable stop-screws 90carried by the barrel.

The slides 85 are operated by bell-crank levers 91 which are pivotallyconnected to the frame 83 by fulcrum studs 92, as shown by Figs. 7 and16. Each slide 85 has on its under side. a swiveled block 93. Theseblocks are engaged by the bell-crank levers. The levers are connectedwith each other by a tie-rod 94 by which they are caused to move inunison. A rod 95 extends from one of the bell-crank levers to athree-armed operating lever 96. (See Figs. 7 and 8). The fulcrum of thelever 96 is indicated at 97. One of the arms of the lever 96 carries aroll 98, and another of the arms carries aroll 99. These rolls arearranged to be engaged and moved by a plate 100 which is mounted uponthe sliding carriage 66. A top plan view of this plate is shown by Figs.3 and 8.

The plate has an inclined cam surface 101 for engaging the roll 98 totransfer a blank ,necting one arm of the lever 96 with the rod .95 holdsthe transferring mechanlsm in re- -tracted position and prevents thepushers from being advanced by vibration or other undesirable cause.'

I'have provided means for holding the blank strip in the desiredposition upon the push fingers during the transferring operation. Themeans for this purpose comprise swinging fingers 104. (See Figs. 15 and16). In Fig. 15 the pushers and fingers 104 are retracted, while in Fig.17 they ex tend into. the feed barrel. The fingers 104 are affixed torockshafts 105. These rockshafts have bearings in blocks 106 which aremounted, preferably adjustably, upon a bar 1.07. Levers 108 are affixedto the upper ends of the rockshafts, The free ends of the levers areconnected by a rod 109. Helical springsllO surround the rockshafts andare compressed between the bearing blocks 106 and the fingers 104. Thesprings keep the levers 108 seated upon the bearing blocks 106 as inFig. 16, but when the transferring mechanism is in operation the springsact to keep the fingers 104 upon the blank strip.

The fingers are beveled as shown at as, in Fig. 16 to enable a blankstrip to pass under them. WVhen the pushers are retracted from the feedbarrel the free ends of the fingers 104 occupy the position shown byFigs .7 and 15. The rockshafts 105- are oscillated when the pushers moveforward to transfer a blank strip to the feed barrel, the free ends ofthe fingers 104 being thereby advanced with the blank strip so as tooverlap the same and to keep the blank stripin the desired position uponthe push fingers. The fingers 104 enter the feed barrel through therecesses 53. (See Fig. 9). The feed barrel as shown by Fig. 9 is turned180 degrees from strip-receiving position; but if the sheet. bearingthis figure be inverted, the feed barrel will look as it does when it isin strip-receiving position and when viewed from the magazine. Thefingers 104 are actuated by the transferring mechanism through themedium of a lever 111 and connecting rod 112. The fulcrum of the leveris indicated at 113. One arm of the lever has a pin-and-slot connection114 with the rod 95. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) The free ends of the fingers104 are thus caused to advance in unison with the push fingers whichtransfer the blank strip. In Fig. 8 the axis of the feed barrel isindicated by broken line 26*.

In order to support the rear end of the blank strip in line with thegrippers 55, I

have provided a swinging finger 115 and I have provided afinger 116.WhichFcOoperates with the finger 115 for the purpose of keeping thestrip seated upon the latter. These fingers enter the feed barrelthrough the recesses 54 shown in Fig. 9. This finger 116 is, to allintentsaand purposes, like'the fingers 101 which cooperate with the pushfingers 86 but the fingers 115 and 116 are rod 119 with the lever 111,as shown by.

Figs. 7, 8 and 22. Referring to Fig.122, the lever 111 has a pin 120which" occupies a slot 121 in the rod 119. A spring 122 is stretchedbetween the pin 120 and'a pin 123 carried by the rod 119. The pin-andslot connection permits longitudinal movement of the rod relatively tothe pin 120, and the spring 122 normally holds the rod in the positionshown best by Figs 7 and 8 Such relative longitudinal movement of therod occurs when the finger 115 is deflected by the grippers ashereinafter explained- The finger 116 is mounted in'the same manner asthe fingers 104., and no further explanation is required except asfollows. The upper end of the rockshaft which carries the fingers 116 isprovided wit-ha lever 124. A spring 125 normally holds thefree.

end of this lever against a pm 126 carried bythe rod 112. One end ofthe'spring is connected to the rod, and the other'end is connected tothe lever. This yielding connection causes the fingers 116 to swing inunison with the finger 115 into the feed barrel when a blank strip isbeing transferred I into the barrel, and permits the finger 116 to bedeflected by the grippers. The fingers 115 and 116 are shown instrip-supporting position by dotted lines in Fig. 16, and are shown inthe sameposition by Fig. 8. I -Assu1ning that the-transferring mechanismhas been operated to transfer a blank strip into the feed barrel, thegrippersadvanceto grip the strip,,being held open for that purpose untilreleased by the cams 69. The grippers, after engaging the strip, advance and engage the fingers 115 and 116 and force these fingers out ofthe feed barrel. The direction ofmovement of the grip pers at this timeis fromright to' left with as shown by Fig. 9, is inline with the slot51 and on the same side of the barrel. The

latter screw is betweenthe .forward end ofv the slot and the deliveryend of the'barrel.

One side edge of the blank stripslides upon I the inner end ofthisscrew, and the strip 18 broughtjlnto such sliding engagement before'theitransferring mechanism is retracted from the barrel. Theblank stripis then guided at the front endby the foremost screw 90, and at the rearend by" the grippers, and at intermediate points by the screws 90 whichare diametricallyopposite the slot '51. 'So' long as the push fingers remain in the barrel'asshown by Fig. 17, the

shoulders 87 1 act as guides'for guiding the longitudinal movement ofthe strip. Before the [transferring mechanism is retracted from 'thebarrel, the forward end of the strip enters between converging guidingsurfaces 127 formed on filling pieces 128 which .are aifixed in thedelivery end of the" barrel. (See Figs. '9 and 10).These filling piecesaregrooved, as indicated at 129, for the sideedges of 13l16'StI'lD,.aI1d1/l16 grooves are of such depth as to accommodatea blankstrip 'of'a width almost equalto the inside than maximum width is used,the adjustable screws 90 are used to'keep the same central with relationto thebarrel. A sufficient diameter. of the barrelJ When a strip of lessspace is left between thefilling pieces 128 to enable the grippers topass out through the deliveryend of the barrel.- Referring I to Fig. 13,it'will be observed that the space between the sliding shoes 63 issufficient to enable the shoes to pass the adjusting screwsspringfingers 130 which are secured to the 3 barrel. These springfingers 130 guide the forward end of the strip so that it will enter asuitable passageway 131' which extends afiixed to the barrel and engagesa surface 133 of. the machine 25 when thebarrel is,

oscillated, to prevent injury to th bl k strip. v

the sliding carriage 66 is shown'by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 18." Thisnechanisrn' receives its power from the machine 25 througha belt 135.The belt passes over'any suitable .-continu'ously driven pulley (notshown) ofthe.

The 1 machine 25 and over a pulley 136.

11s The power driven mechanism for driving latter is afiixed to ashaft'137. A sprocket wheel; 138 affixed tothis'shaft drives a chainl39ywhichruns overva sprocket wheel 140 loosely mounted'upontheshaftl76. Fig. 18'). -Theshaft 137 is'als o provided with a' gear 14-1which engagesa gear 142.

The latterfis compounded with a sprocket wheel 143 by a shaft 14% Thesprocket y 110 through a nosepiece 132. This nosepieceis wheel 143drives a chain 145 which runs over a sprocket wheel 146 loosely mountedupon the shaft 7 6. The sprocket-wheels 140 and 146 are thus rotatedcontinuously in opposite directions. The shaft 76 is movablelongitudinally for the purpose of connecting and disconnecting suitableclutch mechanismcontained in thesprocket wheels thereon. As theconstruction of this clutch mechanism is unimportant, and the same isfully shown in my copending application, it is unnecessary toillustrateand describe the same in detail in the present instance. Itwill be sufficient to state that when the shaft 76 is movedlongitudinally as far as it will go toward the right, with reference toFig. 18, the sprocket wheels 74 and 146 are operatively connected sothat the sprocket 74 will be driven to move the sliding carriage 66forwardly or toward the machine 25; and when the shaft 76 is movedlongitudinally .as far as it will go toward the left, the sprocket wheel74 is disconnected from the sprocket wheel 146 and operatively connectedto the sprocket wheel 140 to retract thesliding carriage 66 from the.machine 25. The first of these driving connections may be, called theforward drive,

ing carriage 66 for shifting the shaft 7 6 to its several positions asoccasion requires. For thispurpose'the shaft is provided with a groovedcollar 147. This collar is engaged by a shipper 14S. The'shipper ismounted upon a fulcrum 149 and is pivotally connected to an operatingrod or controller 150.

' The shipper is in the form of a bell-crank in plan view, as shown byFigs. 3 and 4. The pivot 151 which connects the shipper and thecontroller serves also as the fulcrum for an" oscillatory member 152."This member is adapted to transmit motion to the shipper 1 from acontinuously vibrating actuator 153; The latteris a lever whose fulcrumis indicated at 154 in- Fig. 2. The lower end of the actuator isarranged to be engaged by a collar 155 on'the rod. 40. The actuatorisheld against the collar by a spring 156. The member 152 is normally heldout of the path of the actuator 153 by a spring 157 as shown by Figs. 3and 4, a stop 158' being provided to be engaged by the member 152 whenthe latter is retracted. The member 152 has an arm 159 at the freeend-of which a is anupstanding finger 160.: This finger The stripfeedingmechanism is provided with automatic devices actuated by the slidstandsin" the path of the plate 100 which is carried by the sliding carriage66. lVhen the plate 100 reaches the limit of feeding movement it movesthe member 152 into the path of the actuator 153, as shown by dottedlines int-Fig. 4. The actuator thereupon abuts against the member 152and moves the shipper 148 to shift the clutch mechanism from neutralposition to reverse position. The sprocket wheel 74 is thereupon drivento retract the sliding carriage from the machine 25. lVhile the slidingcarriage is moving away from the machine 25, a stud 161 carried by theplate 100 engages a latch 162 which is mounted upon a lever 163. Thefunction of this lever is to lift the connection 41 out of engagementwith the stud 42 to stop the oscillatory movement of the feed barrel.The fulcrum of the lever 163 is indicated at 164. One end of a rod 165is pivotally connected to the lever 163,

and the other end is pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever 166. Thefulcrum of lever 166 is indicated at 167. A. lifting bar 168 ispivotally connected to the bell-crank and is provided with a groovedroll 169 which extends under the rod 40, as shown by Fig. 19. Thelifting device is initially held in its lower position by a spring 170connected to the lever 166, the inoperative position of these partsbeing determined by a stop-pin 171 which is arranged to be engaged bythe lever 163. When the rod 40 is lifted to inoperative position it isheld in that position by a detent 172. to rockshaft 173 and is disposedtoengage the pin 174 which connects the bell-crank 166 and the liftingdevice 168. (See Fig. 19). hen the lifting device moves upwardly, thepin 174 strikes the detent 172,

deflecting the latter against the tension of the spring 175. The detentis thereafter hooked under the pin 174 by the action of the spring 175and supports the rod 4O in inoperative position until the detent isretracted as hereinafter explained.

Referring again to the latch 162 (Figs. 2 and '5), this latch ismountedon the lever 163 by a pivot 176. The latch and lever have abuttingportions, indicated by dotted lines in-Fig. 5, whereby they are, to allintents and purposes, rigid with relation to each other when the stud161 acts as aforesaid, The abutting portions of these members are heldagainst each other by a spring 177 which permits the latch to swingtoward the left and downwardly when the stud 161 moves toward themachine 25. The stud 161 can therefore'move the lever 16 only in onedirection.

The controller 150 carries an abutment 17 8 (Figsx6 and 7 which isadapted to be engaged by the stud 161when the sliding carriage is fullyretracted.

The detent is aiiixed v This coiiperation of-the-stud with theabutmentshifts the con: i;

l the forward movement of the sliding car-- (See Figs. 3,8 and'119).

'troller froni reverse to forward position. The controller is thereaftershifted to neutral position by a lever 179. The fulcrum of this lever isindicated at 180 in Fig. 7. The lever has an arm 181 at the free end ofwhich is a roll 182. The roll is disposed in the plane of the plate 100,and is moved into the path of the plate when the controller is shiftedfrom reverse to forward position. The forward movement of the plate thendeflects the roll sul'liciently tov shift the controller from forward toneutral 1308111011. This last shift occurs after the grippers have takenhold ofthe' fresh blank strip but before the forward end of the striphas reached the devices of the machine 25 which act upon the strip. Assoon as the clutch mechanism is thrown to neutral position, the weight78 becomes effective for feeding the strip toward the machine 25.

Referring again to the lifting device 168 which disconnects theoscillating means for the feed barrel,it will be recalled that the laststatement concerning the detent 172 is that it supports the rod 40 ininoperative position until the detent is retracted. When a fresh blankstrip has been transferred from the magazine into thefeed barrel, and

when the transferring mechanism has been retracted from the feed barrel,the detent 172 is-retracted to permit the rod 10 to drop for the11163086 of o erativel connectin P :3

the mechanism by which the feed barrel is oscillated. The detent isretracted during riage by a stud 183 carried by the plate 100.

The stud 188 engages a latch 18% which is pivotally mounted upon a lever185 by a pivot pin 186. A spring 187 normally holds the upper end of thelatch 18d in the path of the stud188, as shown by Fig. 19.' This deviceis substan tially the same asthe device shown by Fig. 5, but'it isarranged to be operated only when the sliding carriage is moving towardthe machine 25, the latch '18-1'being adapted to be deflected bytl1e-stud188 when the latter is moving away from the machine 25.

The lever 185 is alfixed to the rockshaft 178 which carries-the'detent172; A. stop-pin 188 is disposed to be engaged by the lever 185 when thedetentis' in operative position, the lover being held against the stopby the spring 175. The direction of forward movement'of the slidingcarriage 66 is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 21. When the stud 183engages the latch 184, the detent 172 is retracted-from under the pin174, thus releasing the lifting device 168 and permitting the rod 410 todrop to operative position. This.

also returns the lever 168 to its initial position against its stop-pin171. I

Referring tol iga 7, a spring follower 189 is provided for holding thecontroller150 in any one of'its three positions. Thefc'ontroller isshown in its neutral -position by this figure. The follower 189 engagesone edge of the controller,said edge being provided with suitablenotches corresponding to the reverse, neutral and forward i positions ofthe controller.

I have provided a safety device for preventingthe operation of thestrip-transferring mechanism while the feed barrel is oscillating, asmight otherwise occur if the clutch mechanism should be put in reversepo-s1t1onfr'om any cause wh le the sliding carriage 66 is between thelever 163'and the three-armed lever 96. The rod 10 should in everyinstance be lifted to stop the oscillatory movement of the barrel beforethe three-armed lever is moved to transfer a blank strip. My device forthis purpose prevents the plate 100, from engaging the roll 98 while thefeed barrel is oscillating. The device comprises a lever 190 whoselocation is shown by Fig. 6Qand whoseconstruction is shown better byFigs. 19 and 20.

This lever has apivoted latch 191 connected thereto by a" pivot pin 192.The latch and the lever have abutting surfaces whichare normally held,1n Contact, with each other by a'spring 193. The device is so disposedextends to the pin 1741 which cooperates with the detent 172. The link197 and the adjacent arm of the bell-crank 166 cotiperate the same astoggle members, with. the resultithat the lever 196 is tilted upon itsfulcrum 19d when the lifting device 168 lifts the rod 10.

When the lever 190 is in the position shown by Fig. 6, the latch 191stands in the path of the pin 161, but when the lifting device is liftedso as to place-the pin 174 upon the detent 172, the lever 1190 tilts soas to carry the. latch 191 out of the path of the stud 161'. The safetydevice is thus moved to inoperative position whenever the pin 174: is

caught by thedetent 172. Supposing, how- 1 ever, the clutch mechanism isreversed while Y the stud 161 is between the latches 162 and 191., Inthis event the sliding carriage will be retracted from the machine 25without disconnecting the rod 40 from the lever 48,

and the feedbarrel will continue to oscillate I while the slidingcarriage is approaching the three-armed lever 96. The plate 100 will notactuate the lever 96 underthese'coiidi? tions, because the clutchmechanism will be the controller 150 to forward driving position; andalthough the feed barrel may continue to oscillate, the lever 96 willnot be operated to transfer a magazine.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of constructing and using the same, although without attempting toset forth all the forms in which it may be made or all the modes of itsuse, what I claim is:

1. Strip-handling mechanism comprising means for feeding a blank strip,a magazine for blank strips, sliding members arranged to carry a blankstrip from said magazine to said feeding means, and swinging membersarranged to cooperate with said sliding members to clamp the blankstrip, the axes of said swinging members being transverse to the planeof carrying movement of the strip.

carrying movement of the strip.

3. Strip-handling mechanism comprising means for feeding blank strip, amagazinei for blank strips, sliding means arranged to,

carry ablank strip in a straight path from said magazlne to said feedingmeans, and a member arranged to swing about an axis toward and from saidfeeding means to hold the blank strip on said carrying means, said axisbeing transverse to the plane of carrying movement of the strip.

4. Strip handling mechanism comprising a feed barrel, means movablethrough said barrel for feeding a strip by engagement with an end of thestrip, said barrel having an opening in its side to receive a strip,meansfor carrying a strip into said barrel through said opening, andmeans for positioning one end of the strip for engagement by saidfeeding means, said positioning means being movable by said feedingmeans from strip-engaging position.

5. Strip handling mechanismcomprising a feed barrel having an opening inits side for receiving a strip, means movable through said barrel forfeeding a strip, means for transferring a strip into said barrel throughsaid opening, and means movable-into. said blank strip from the barrelbysaid transferring means for holding an end of the strip in position tobe 0peratively engaged by said feeding means, said strip-holding meansbeing movable by said feeding means while said transferring means is inoperative engagement with said strip.

6. Strip handling mechanism comprising bodily movable means for engagingthe rear end of a blank strip to feed the strip endwise, means fortransferring a blank strip laterally into operative position for feedingby said feeding means, cooperative stripengaging members for holding therear end of the strip in position for engagement by said feeding means,and yielding means for moving said strip-engaging members to operativeposition, said strip-engaging members being displaceable from operativeposition'by said feeding means.

7. The combination with instrumentalities for operating upon a blankstrip, of means movable toward and from said instrumen-- talities forfeeding a blank strip, a continuously rotating driver, reversing meansadapted to be connected with said driver to transmit movement from saiddriver to said feeding means, a power-driven actuator, and meansincluding a member'movable by said feeding means into the path of saidactuator for transmitting movement from said actua-. tor to operativelyconnect said reversing means with said driver.

8. The combination with instrumentalities for operating upon a blankstrip, of means movable toward and from said instrumentalities forfeeding a blank strip, a continuously rotating driver, disconnectiblemeans adapted to be driven by said driver for moving said feeding means,an actuator driven independently of said feeding means, connecting meansadaptedto be operated by said actuator for operatively connecting saiddisoonnectible means with said driver, and means movable by said feedingmeans into the path of said actuator for transmitting movement from saidactuator to operate said connecting means.

9'. Strip handling mechanism comprising a feed slide'having provisionsfor engaging a blank strip, means for guiding the strip, discoimectiblemeans for oscillating said guiding means, means operable by said slidefor disconnecting said oscillating means, means operable by said slidefor transferring a blank strip into said guiding means, and means forpreventing action of said slide upon said transferring means whilesaid0scillating means is operatively connected with said guiding means.

10. The combination with instrumentalities for operating upon a blankstrip; of: a strip-engaging member having a passageway for guiding. ablank strip to said instrumentalities, cooperative leaf springs'forengaging opposite sides of the blank strip to guide to said springs,means for turning said guiding means to adjust the blank strip with re-;

lation to said inst'rnmentalities, said first mentioned member and saidsprings being carried by said guidingmeans so as to be turned thereby,and meansfor feeding the blank strip to said instrumentalities.

v11. Strip handling mechanism comprising means for engaging a blankstrip to feed the same, a magazine for blank strips, and

means for transferring a blank strip from said magazine to said feedingmeans, said transferring means including strip-holding means for holdingone end of the strip in position for said feeding means to operativelyengage the strip, said strip-holding means Copies of this patent may beobtained for being arranged to be displaced from the strip by saidfeeding means. I

"12. Strip-handling mechanism comprising means for engaging a blankstrip to feed the same, a magazine for blank strips, and

'means for transferring a blank strip from saidmagazine to said feedingmeans, said transferring means including strip-clamping means forholding one end of the strip in position for said feeding means to'operatively engage the strip, said strip-clamping means being arrangedto be displaced from the strip by said feeding means. a

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

.t HERBERT G. LEONARD. Witnesses: i

S. D. BUFFINTON,

Gr. W. TBULL.

five cents each, by addressing the t Commissioner of Patents,Washington, D, G.

